abbr. for Sichuan Province 四川[Sì chuān] in southwest China
j, 3 strokes, radical 川, rank #6000, Hard
川
Chuān
abbr. for Sichuan Province 四川[Si4 chuan1] in southwest China
unknown, 3 strokes, radical 川, rank #6000, Hard
Chuān(Chuan1)chuan T1
1river
2creek
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March 24, 2026
川Chuān(Chuan1)
The character 川 (chuān) primarily means 'river' or 'creek' and can also refer to plains or areas of level country. It is commonly used to denote waterways and is an abbreviation for Sichuan Province, known for its rich geography and culture centered around rivers.
Strokes3Radical川Frequency#6000DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rivers are significant not only for their geographical importance but also for their symbolic meanings in poetry and art. Sichuan, associated with the character 川, is famous for its hotpot and rich culinary traditions, heavily influenced by its river systems.
Memory Tip
Imagine a flowing river (川) that carves through the land. Visualize the water moving smoothly, which helps you remember that 'chuān' means river. The character looks like three flowing streams converging, reinforcing its meaning.
Meanings of 川
Chuān(Chuan1)
1river
2creek
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 川 means.
About 川
川Simplified
3Strokes
川Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#6000Frequency Rank
Podcast: 川
Podcast: 川
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AI Study Notes for 川
Quick Contrast
河 (hé) - use 河 when specifically referring to a river, while 川 can denote broader waterways or plains.
Usage Notes
川 is often used in geographical contexts, but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions related to water. Be cautious with its tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (high and level). Avoid confusing it with other characters like '山' (mountain) which has a different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 川 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to nature and geography at this level, such as '河' (he, river) and '湖' (hu, lake). Students should focus on pronunciation and context to differentiate these terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 川 with 河 (he), leading to incorrect phrases like '我住在川' (I live by the river) instead of '我住在河边' (I live by the riverbank). Ensure you use the correct character based on the size of the water body.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 川
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How Well Do You Know 川?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 川 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 川 (chuān) primarily means 'river' or 'creek' and can also refer to plains or areas of level country. It is commonly used to denote waterways and is an abbreviation for Sichuan Province, known for its rich geography and culture centered around rivers.
When to use 川
川 is often used in geographical contexts, but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions related to water. Be cautious with its tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (high and level). Avoid confusing it with other characters like '山' (mountain) which has a different meaning.
川 or something close to it
河 (hé) - use 河 when specifically referring to a river, while 川 can denote broader waterways or plains.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 川 with 河 (he), leading to incorrect phrases like '我住在川' (I live by the river) instead of '我住在河边' (I live by the riverbank). Ensure you use the correct character based on the size of the water body.
Write 川
川
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Practice writing 川 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 川
川 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
